Gender Tamás Junior made his debut in the OK category at the first round of the WSK Final Cup on the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato. The promising young kart racer began Sunday’s Warm Up at the top of his group and delivered an impressive series of overtakes throughout the weekend. In the Final, he achieved the largest position gain, finishing in 16th place in his first-ever OK category race weekend.
Although Tamás was already somewhat familiar with the OK kart's performance, having raced it in the OK-N category at the Trofeo delle Industrie where he secured 5th place, this weekend marked a new level of competition, with the OK category’s intense field setting high standards for all drivers.
The WSK Final Cup holds a special prestige as it has hosted many well-known drivers over the years, including Charles Leclerc, who showcased his skills in the KF3 category in 2011. This event is not only significant due to its current field but also as a traditional stepping stone for karting talents on their way to the highest levels of motorsport.
Due to the new category and team, the race presented an intense challenge for Tamás, yet his performance was remarkable during the Saturday Heats, where he advanced by 8 positions in two of the Heats. On Sunday morning, he recorded the fastest time in his group during Warm Up, and throughout the day he maintained a great pace. In the Pre-final (Group B), he advanced 7 positions to finish in 12th, and in the Final, he executed an outstanding drive, overtaking 20 competitors to finish in 16th.
“A fantastic recovery in the final! From Sunday morning, my pace was incredible, and I was able to gain 20 positions in the final, finishing the weekend in 16th out of 71 OK drivers. I want to thank VictoryLane for their hard work, Kart Republic for the chassis, IAME for the engine, and Zele Bau for the support!” said Gender Tamás Junior.
This race provided Tamás with invaluable experience in the international field, which he can apply in the upcoming rounds. VictoryLane Karting is proud of their driver and wishes him continued success in the remaining races of the series.
Result summary
- Free Practice, S1: 15th place
- Qualifying Group, S1: 25th place
- Overall Qualifying: 49th place, Group A
- A-B Heat: 17th place, gained 8 positions
- A-C Heat: 17th place, gained 8 positions
- A-D Heat: 22nd place, gained 3 positions
- Warm Up, odd number: 1st place
- Pre-final (Group B): 12th place, gained 7 positions
- Final: 16th place, gained 20 positions
The next round of the WSK Final Cup will be held at the Cremona Circuit from November 20 to November 24, 2024.
